Quest for the Historical Apostles

Brian Shelton W.

Description

The stories and contributions of the apostles provide an important entrée into church history. This comprehensive historical and literary introduction uncovers their lives and legacies, underscoring the apostles' impact on the growth of the early church. The author collects and distills the histories, legends, symbols, and iconography of the original twelve and locates figures such as Paul, Peter, and John in the broader context of the history of the apostles. He also explores the continuing story of the gospel mission and the twelve disciples beyond the New Testament.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• History of religions
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 17 avril 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493413195
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2018 by W. Brian Shelton
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1319-5
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
All maps are copyright © Baker Publishing Group.
Dedication
To Bill Shelton, whose paternal love and faith in Christ have blazed a path for my own faith journey.
His influence and support have ranged from rearing his children in church to an appreciation for my theological career.
He positioned me to complete confirmation at a young age, where the pastor realized a coincidence that day: “Twelve confirmed. Like the twelve apostles. Perhaps this is no coincidence.”
Contents
Cover i
Title Page iii
Copyright Page iv
Dedication v
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi
Introduction: The Quest 1
1. The Path 17
2. Peter: The Rooster 61
3. Andrew: The Saltire 95
4. James: The Scallop Shell 113
5. John: The Eagle 125
6. Philip: The Bread 145
7. Bartholomew: The Knife 159
8. Thomas: The Builder 173
9. Matthew: The Publican 187
10. James: The Lesser 201
11. Jude: The Exorcist 211
12. Simon: The Zealot 223
13. Matthias: The Elected 231
14. Paul: The Sword 243
15. The Discovery 269
Works Cited 281
Index of Modern Authors 295
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient and Medieval Sources 299
Index of Subjects 309
Back Cover 315
Acknowledgments
J ust as the apostolic college was an assembly of individuals with a common cause, this book had its own writing college that deserves mention. The fellowship of Clarkesville United Methodist Church provided the initial impetus for this work when they reached for insight beyond what a book on the apostles could offer. Thanks are due to David Nelson, Wells Turner, and the Baker editorial and production professionals for their generous support. Thanks to Torri Beck and the Seby Jones Library staff at Toccoa Falls College for endless research support. President Robert Myers and five school deans offered understanding to their provost to pursue a meaningful outlet amid numerous other administrative responsibilities. Special thanks to Kent Rothwell for laboring through a draft from a layman’s perspective simply out of a love for learning and a contribution to friendship. Finally, the work would not have been possible without initial recommendations by Drs. Robert Yarbrough, Joel Green, Bryan Litfin, and Kenneth Steinhauser, as well as their influence on me.
Particular thanks go to Sally Shelton, whose interest in biblical studies continues to mature alongside my own. Her dedication to dialoguing about apostolic journeys, tying together pieces of the New Testament, and sacrificial supporting of writing projects is invaluable. It is my hope that Annie, Katie, and Maggie Shelton will follow in her footsteps and someday profit from the journeys of the apostles presented here.
While it seems idealistic, expressing acknowledgment to thirteen apostles long gone seems fitting. My respect for these fellow believers deepened as their journeys and sacrifices slowly unfolded to me. I realized the profound inspiration that they continue to offer those who journey and sacrifice for the same kingdom cause generations later. Although the church is regularly criticized, I think the apostles would be proud that the message instrumental to their own lives continues to be perpetuated among Christians around the world.
Rome, Lent 2017
Abbreviations
General and Bibliographic † death (at a place or date) ANF The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325 . Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Revised by A. Cleveland Coxe. 10 vols. New York: Christian Literature, 1885–87. Reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994. AT author’s translation ca. circa , about Cain Jerome. Commentary on Galatians . Translated by Andrew Cain. FC 121. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2010. CE Common Era chap(s). chapter(s) d. died Elliott J. K. Elliott. The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation . Oxford: Clarendon, 1993. fl. flourished FC Fathers of the Church Hills Julian V. Hills, trans. The Epistle of the Apostles . Early Christian Apocrypha 2. Salem, OR: Polebridge, 2009. Holmes The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations . Edited and translated by Michael W. Holmes. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007. James The Apocryphal New Testament: Being the Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses . Translated by Montague Rhodes James. Oxford: Clarendon, 1924. Reprint, 1972. KJV King James Version Lienhard Origen. Homilies on Luke . Translated by Joseph T. Lienhard. FC 94. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1996. Malan Abdias. The Conflicts of the Holy Apostles . Translated by Solomon Caesar Malan. London: BiblioLife, 2015. NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament n.p. no page number available NPNF 1 A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church . First series. Edited by Philip Schaff. 14 vols. New York: Christian Literature, 1886–89. Reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994. NPNF 2 A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church . Second series. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. 14 vols. New York: Christian Literature, 1890–1900. Reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994. r. reigned Robinson James M. Robinson, ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English: The Definitive Translation of the Gnostic Scriptures Complete in One Volume . San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990. Schneemelcher New Testament Apocrypha . Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Translated by R. M. Wilson. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1963–66. TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentaries trans. translated by v(v). verse(s) vol(s). volume(s) Williams Epiphanius. Against Heresies . In The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, book 1. Translated by Frank Williams. Boston: Brill, 2009.
Old Testament Gen. Genesis Exod. Exodus Lev. Leviticus Num. Numbers Deut. Deuteronomy Josh. Joshua Judg. Judges Ruth Ruth 1 Sam. 1 Samuel 2 Sam. 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chron. 1 Chronicles 2 Chron. 2 Chronicles Ezra Ezra Neh. Nehemiah Esther Esther Job Job Ps(s). Psalm(s) Prov. Proverbs Eccles. Ecclesiastes Song Song of Songs Isa. Isaiah Jer. Jeremiah Lam. Lamentations Ezek. Ezekiel Dan. Daniel Hosea Hosea Joel Joel Amos Amos Obad. Obadiah Jon. Jonah Mic. Micah Nah. Nahum Hab. Habakkuk Zeph. Zephaniah Hag. Haggai Zech. Zechariah Mal. Malachi
New Testament Matt. Matthew Mark Mark Luke Luke John John Acts Acts Rom. Romans 1 Cor. 1 Corinthians 2 Cor. 2 Corinthians Gal. Galatians Eph. Ephesians Phil. Philippians Col. Colossians 1 Thess. 1 Thessalonians 2 Thess. 2 Thessalonians 1 Tim. 1 Timothy 2 Tim. 2 Timothy Titus Titus Philem. Philemon Heb. Hebrews James James 1 Pet. 1 Peter 2 Pet. 2 Peter 1 John 1 John 2 John 2 John 3 John 3 John Jude Jude Rev. Revelation
Old Testament Apocrypha 2 Esd. 2 Esdras 4 Macc. 4 Maccabees Sir. Sirach Wis. Wisdom of Solomon
Other Ancient Works Ant. Josephus, Jewish Antiquities Conflicts Abdias, Conflicts of the Holy Apostles Ep. Apos. Epistle of the Apostles Gos. Thom. Gospel of Thomas Haer . Irenaeus, Against Heresies Hist. eccl . Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History J.W. Josephus, Jewish War Life Josephus, Life of Flavius Josephus Ps.-Abd. Apostolic History of Pseudo-Abdias Strom . Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies Twelve Hippolytus, On the Twelve Apostles Vir. ill. Jerome, Illustrious Men
Introduction
The Quest
Turning to the disciples, He [Jesus] said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”
Luke 10:23–24
While Jesus was saying this, Thomas, Andrew, James and Simon the Canaanite were in the west, with their faces turned east, but Philip and Bartholomew were in the south turned towards the north, but the other disciples and the women disciples stood behind Jesus. But Jesus stood beside the altar.
Pistis Sophia, 1 late third century, Egypt
T he lives of the apostles deeply intrigue us. For Christianity’s faithful, these historic figures are pioneers, heroes, and saints. They are models for the faith and sources of firsthand knowledge of the Christ. They walked with Jesus, beheld his marvels, wondered at his conversations, and reflected deeply on his teaching. They sat at the Last Supper table, grew weary at Gethsemane, witnessed the crucifixion, and marveled at the resurrection. Not knowing what their individual futures held, they were shaken at Pentecost, grew into church leaders, and watched the church rise to a level of indelible competition with religions in the Roman Empire. Most apostles passed into obscurity, but all died without any thought that generations to follow would herald them as icons of the faith and personifications of religious ideals. In their time these figures were stones in the historic foundation of early, expanding Christianity, and now their stories are inspirational and interesting to us. Even atheist Tom Bissell, writing about the history of the apostles, declares, “I have long bel